When Jesus sent out His seventy-two disciples in missional pairs, He gave them the following specific directions:
- The spiritual harvest is plentiful, but the urban missionaries are limited. Pray for more urban missionaries.
- Depend on Me by faith rather than trying to provide for all of your needs in advance.
- Look for the person of peace by praying for God’s blessing of peace to be poured out on people’s lives.
- When you find the person of peace, fellowship with them and focus on discipling them.
- Share with the person of peace the good news about the kingdom of God and show that it really does exist by holistically healing people.
- If people reject you, don’t get discouraged and give up. Keep on looking for someone else who is a person of peace. Luke 10:1-12
As Ellen White has noted, “Calling the twelve about Him, Jesus bade them go out two and two through the towns and villages. None were sent forth alone, but brother was associated with brother, friend with friend. Thus they could help and encourage each other, counseling and praying together, each one’s strength supplementing the other’s weakness. In the same manner He afterward sent forth the seventy. It was the Saviour’s purpose that the messengers of the gospel should be associated in this way. In our own time evangelistic work would be far more successful if this example were more closely followed.” DA p350
You’ll notice that one of Jesus’ key strategic directions was for His disciples to find people of peace. What is a person of peace? He or she is someone who is open to the gospel, someone who has already responded to the Holy Spirit’s missionary work even before they meet a human disciple.
Are you skeptical that such people actually exist? Come meet Cornelius, an Italian officer in the Roman Empire’s vast military system. Cornelius was stationed as the centurion as the officer in charge of about one hundred Roman soldiers in Caesarea, a city on the coast of Israel that had temples to Rome and Augustus and hosted major sports competitions, gladiator games and theatre shows. Does it sound a bit like Sydney in some ways?
The reason why Cornelius was chosen by the Roman empire to be a centurion was not just to have fun in Caesarea. He was chosen because of his leadership abilities. As the historian Polybius observed, ““Centurions are required not to be bold and adventurous so much as good leaders, of steady and prudent mind, not prone to take the offensive or start fighting wantonly, but able when overwhelmed and hard-pressed to stand fast and die at their post.” History 6.24.
However, Cornelius was not just a good military leader. He was also a spiritual leader and example. The Bible says that he prayed continually to God. Now I know that Paul later counselled us to pray without ceasing, which sounds a bit challenging sometimes. Well, here was a Roman officer who was doing just that! He was literally walking humbly God. Cornelius was also a good spiritual leader for the people around him as well. Not only was a devout man who feared God—he lead his soldiers to be devout as well.
No matter how good and spiritual a person is, though, they are missing out significantly if they do not know what Jesus has done for them by dying on the Cross for them. We might see our neighbours, work colleagues and classmates as decent people living good moral lives, but they still need to know Jesus! And that is what God orchestrated for Cornelius—an opportunity to hear the good news about Jesus.
God started off by sending an angel to Cornelius. “God has heard your prayers, Cornelius,” the angel said, “I am here to answer those prayers. However, I am not going to give you the message, even though I actually know the amazing story myself. You need to hear it from one of Jesus’ human disciples.”
“‘Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon.’ Thus God gave evidence of His regard for the gospel ministry and for His organized church. The angel was not commissioned to tell Cornelius the story of the cross. A man subject, even as the centurion himself, to human frailties and temptations, was to be the one to tell him of the crucified and risen Saviour.
“As His representatives among men, God does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save. Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity. A divine-human Saviour was needed to bring salvation to the world. And to men and women has been committed the sacred trust of making known “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8.
“In His wisdom the Lord brings those who are seeking for truth into touch with fellow beings who know the truth. It is the plan of Heaven that those who have received light shall impart it to those in darkness. Humanity, drawing its efficiency from the great Source of wisdom, is made the instrumentality, the working agency, through which the gospel exercises its transforming power on mind and heart.” AAp134
Then God had to work on the heart of other person, Peter. Instead of sending an angel, He used a visionary charade, a giant blanket of exotic animals, to challenge Peter’s thinking. Was God telling Peter that he could now eat unclean meat? We have to dig a bit deeper and ask some probing questions. Why was Peter praying there on the roof? Why was he praying so long that he was starting to get really hungry? Ellen White shares with us her prophetic insight:
“It was not for physical food alone that Peter hungered. As from the housetop he viewed the city of Joppa and the surrounding country he hungered for the salvation of his countrymen. He had an intense desire to point out to them from the Scriptures the prophecies relating to the sufferings and death of Christ.” AA p135
People might be downstairs in the house preparing food for Peter, but God was preparing his heart and responding to his prayerful hunger that the salvation of God might reach even more people than he dreamed possible.
Peter understands the message. Cornelius hears the gospel, along with all the family and close friends that he had gathered for this occasion, and the Caesarean Pentecost occurs.
This story illustrates the powerful person of peace principle. By connecting Peter with an unclean Roman centurion, the gospel broke through the cultural barrier reaching a whole community under the influence of Cornelius in Caesarea. The person of peace principle was the key that opened the way for unclean Gentiles like you and I living in the coastal city of Sydney to become followers of Jesus.
Does the person of peace principle work today, particularly amongst the affluent and influential people in the upper echelons of society? This is the counsel that we have:
“Today God is seeking for souls among the high as well as the lowly. There are many like Cornelius, men whom the Lord desires to connect with His work in the world. Their sympathies are with the Lord’s people, but the ties that bind them to the world hold them firmly. It requires moral courage for them to take their position for Christ. Special efforts should be made for these souls, who are in so great danger, because of their responsibilities and associations.
“God calls for earnest, humble workers, who will carry the gospel to the higher class. There are miracles to be wrought in genuine conversions—miracles that are not now discerned. The greatest men of this earth are not beyond the power of a wonder-working God. If those who are workers together with Him will be men of opportunity, doing their duty bravely and faithfully, God will convert men who occupy responsible positions, men of intellect and influence. Through the power of the Holy Spirit many will accept the divine principles. Converted to the truth, they will become agencies in the hand of God to communicate the light. They will have a special burden for other souls of this neglected class. Time and money will be consecrated to the work of the Lord, and new efficiency and power will be added to the church.” AA pp139,140
“There are in our world many who are nearer the kingdom of God than we suppose. In this dark world of sin the Lord has many precious jewels, to whom He will guide His messengers. Everywhere there are those who will take their stand for Christ. Many will prize the wisdom of God above any earthly advantage, and will become faithful light bearers. Constrained by the love of Christ, they will constrain others to come to Him.” AA pp140,141
Could there be someone in your community whose spiritual openness might surprise you? What would happen if you started to focus on praying that the Holy Spirit would lead you to them? Is there a Cornelius living near you?
The book of Acts is drenched with the Holy Spirit. Reading it is like taking time to play out in the tropical rain! Read the full stories for today in:
Acts 10 NRSV
Acts of the Apostles “A Seeker for Truth”
Invite your friends to join this journey with you!
